Mines (18-3, 12-1) at MSU Denver (14-6, 10-2) – Friday, 7 p.m. [Live Stats] [Live Video]
Mines (18-3, 12-1) at Chadron State (7-14, 5-7) – Saturday, 4 p.m. [Live Stats] [Live Video]
 

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SETTING THE STAGE
The Colorado School of Mines Volleyball team hits the road for the fifth time in 2018 as it heads to MSU Denver Friday and Chadron State Saturday. Mines sits alone at #1 in the RMAC standings, but MSUD (14-6, 10-2) is just 1.5 games out of first place as the Roadrunners will look to topple the Orediggers. Chadron State (7-14, 5-7) could prove to be equally dangerous as the Eagles are just half a game out of a berth in the RMAC Tournament. At 18-3 overall and 12-1 in conference, Mines has already clinched a berth in the conference tournament, but aren't done yet as the Orediggers seek their sixth RMAC Regular-Season crown.
 
LAST WEEKEND IN REVIEW
Last weekend was a tale of two matches for the Orediggers. Friday was a tough, four-set affair that the Orediggers dropped to Colorado Christian inside Lockridge Arena. The loss snapped Mines' 11-match win streak despite a double-double from Amanda Donais, 18 kills from Lindsey Jin and 52 assists courtesy of Drew Stokes. The Orediggers bounced back Saturday with a 3-1 victory over Regis to sweep the regular-season series against the Rangers. Donais notched another double-double and Lindsey Jin racked up 14 more kills as Mines hit .322 against the preseason favorite to win the RMAC title.
 
SCOUTING MSU DENVER
MSU Denver enters the weekend riding a six-match win streak. In 2018, the Roadrunners are 7-3 on their home court with only one of those losses coming in RMAC play. The offense is led by the duo of Taylor Duryea and Santaisha Sturges who have combined for 461 kills this season. Jessa Megenhardt and Morgan Weatherwax coordinated the Roadrunners' attack with 336 and 319 assists, respectively. Lyric Hebert anchors the defense with 275 digs and 4.51 digs per set while Alyssa Kelling and Stephanie Laraway have recorded 62 blocks each.
 
CUCKOOS FROM DENVER
MSU Denver's nickname for its athletics teams is the Roadrunners which is a slender fast-running bird of the cuckoo family. Appropriately named, as it is a bird found chiefly in arid country. While the Roadrunner name has remained consistent, the institutional name has not. Originally founded as an "opportunity school" named Metropolitan State College of Denver, the administration looked to change the name to Denver State University in 2011. This was quickly quashed by privately run University of Denver and the board of trustees settled on Metropolitan State University of Denver, now self-branded as MSU Denver.
 
AURARIA EVENT CENTER
Roadrunner volleyball and men's and women's basketball play all of their home contests inside the Auraria Event Center. The gym was originally built in 1976 and used primarily for the school's physical education and campus recreation departments. Following numerous upgrades over the years, the AEC features seating for 2,200, one auxiliary gym and the old Jumbotron from Pepsi Center.
SCOUTING CHADRON STATE
Chadron State opens the weekend against UCCS with the fuel of back-to-back wins fueling them. The Eagles are significantly better on their home floor in 2018 with a mark of 4-2 in Chadron while going 2-4 at neutral sites and 1-8 in true road games. CSC's biggest weapon may be Ashton Burditt who is #19 in NCAA Division II in digs per set at 5.73. With Burditt anchoring the defense, Aracely Hernandez leads the offense with 214 kills at 2.78 kills per set. Chadron State looks to Madison Webb to captain its offense with 740 assists on the year.
 
THE MORE YOU KNOW ABOUT EAGLES
The nickname for Chadron State's athletics teams is the Eagles. Most commonly known as America's national bird, the Eagle is a large bird of prey with a massive hooked bill and long broad wings, boasting excellent eyesight and powerful soaring flight. At the top of the food chain, some eagle species feed on prey as big as monkeys as sloths and are able to detect their target up to two miles away. There are nearly 60 species of eagles worldwide but just 14 found in North, Central and South America. Eagles wingspans are about 1.8 meters or nearly six feet. With such a large body, eagle's nests can be quite large with the biggest being 13 feet deep, eight feet wide and over 1 ton in weight. And now you know.
 
CHICOINE CENTER
The home of Chadron State Volleyball is the Chicoine Center which was newly renovated in 2013. It is named after Vernon P. Chicoine who is a businessman, rancher, civic leader, investor and philanthropist who lived in Chadron, Neb., for 66 years. The arena renovation was completed in the winter of 2014 and features a horseshoe-shaped area with seating for 1,750 spectators. More than 600 of the seats have collapsible backs and there is also a mezzanine level for those who prefer to stand during competition.
 
SERIES HISTORY
In the coach Jamie Magalei era, Mines is 10-13 against MSU Denver. The Orediggers are 2-2 over their last four matches with the Roadrunners, including two showdowns in the RMAC Tournament Championship match. Mines won the tournament over MSU Denver in four sets in 2016. However, the Roadrunners found victory in the championship match last season with a five-set victory. Against Chadron State, Magalei's teams are 19-0 and have only lost five sets to the Eagles in those 19 meetings. Mines will look to carry that momentum into Saturday's match.
 
RMAC OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Lindsey Jin claimed RMAC Offensive Player of the Week honors Monday for the second time in her career and the first time in 2018. Jin was a machine last weekend as she knocked down kills at a rate of 4.00 kills per set. She led Mines in both matches with 18 kills against Colorado Christian and 14 kills against Regis. Jin finished the weekend with 32 kills, 15 digs, one block and one service ace.
 
STATISTICAL SUMMARY
Mines appears multiple times in the national stat rankings. The Orediggers are #12 in NCAA Division II in assists per set and hitting percentage. Mines is also #17 in per kills per set and #18 in win-loss percentage. Individually, Drew Stokes is #11 in DII in assists per set and #18 in total assists. In the RMAC, Mines ranks #1 in hitting percentage, assists per set and kills per set.
 
BY THE NUMERS
Mines has played 21 matches so far in 2018. The Orediggers are 9-1 at home, 7-1 on the road and 2-1 in neutral matches. Mines has swept 10 of its opponents while only being shutout once. The Orediggers have only a quartet of four-set matches in which they hold a record of 3-1. The remainder of Mines' contests have been five-set affairs where it has gone 5-1.
 
RMAC RUNDOWN
Mines is currently #1 in the RMAC standings and have already clinched a berth in the RMAC Tournament. However, the Orediggers' lead is not a large one with Dixie State (16-4, 11-2) and Colorado Mesa (16-5, 11-2) just one game back. MSU Denver (14-6, 10-2) and Regis (14-8, 10-3) also have a shot at a regular-season crown, sitting #4 and #5 respectively. With a battle at the top, the battle for RMAC Tournament berths will be equally fierce. UCCS (10-11, 8-5) and Colorado Christian (10-12, 8-5) are currently into the postseason in a tie for sixth. Fort Lewis (6-11, 6-7) is currently the last team in but Chadron State, Adams State, Westminster, Black Hills State and New Mexico Highlands all still have a shot at the #8 seed.
 
LOOKING AHEAD
Next weekend, the Orediggers return to Lockridge Arena for Parents & Greek Night Oct. 26 and Senior & Alumni Night Oct. 27. Mines faces Western State Friday and Colorado Mesa Saturday. Live stats and video of the matches will be available at www.MinesAthletics.com.
 
Keep up with Colorado School of Mines Athletics all season long on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram using the handle @MinesAthletics.